In your golf swing, your arms help control the direction and speed of the club through the moment of impact. For a right-handed golfer, the left arm is the lead arm in the swing, prompting some players to think it should be higher vertically. However, this leads to poor posture in the golf swing and inaccurate contact with the ball. The average golfer should actually have his right arm higher than his left throughout a majority of the swing.
Swing Types
There are a variety of swing types in golf, such as the beginner's arm-leading swing, the stack and tilt and the body-leading swing. Regardless of what swing type you use, your right arm will stay above your left arm if you are a right-handed golfer. In some cases. Your arms may come close to parallel, such as in the halfway point of an arm-leading backswing, but raising your left arm above your right will pull your shoulders and torso out of alignment during the swing. As you complete your swing with a style like the stack and tilt, however, your left arm may come above your right arm at the finish.
Hand and Arm Relationship
If you are having a problem with your right arm coming below your left arm in your backswing, check your hand and arm relationship. According to the Purgatory Golf Club, if you find your hand and arm relationship is failing you during your swing, it is likely that your club grip, posture and body pivoting are not correct. Your arms must follow the motion that your torso and shoulders make during the swing, so having a straight back and knowing how to transfer your weight properly between your feet throughout the swing will keep your right arm above your left at the necessary points in the swing.
Shoulder Rotation
Professional golf instructor Jim McLean says in his book, "The Eight-Step Swing," that mastering your shoulder rotation is one of the keys to perfecting your arm placement in the swing. McLean advises that you think of your shoulders as a bar that rotates on the axis of your spine. Therefore, at the peak of your backswing, your left shoulder points at the ground, and at the peak of your finish, your right shoulder does. When you do this, you can allow your arms to swing freely along with your shoulders, and they should always be in the correct position.
Drilling
Your golf swing needs to be a finely tuned mechanism, and the only way to refine your technique is through regular practice. To maintain correct body position throughout the swing, try placing a club across your back and hold it in place with your elbows wrapped over it. Stand in your ball-addressing posture and practice your swing with your body while your arms are removed from the equation by the club. The club will help your shoulders rotate properly, and your arms will be in the correct position.
Member Comments